I had originally planned to have this chapter be part of the next one but decided against it as that would have made the chapter a bit too big (over 12,000 words). While some of you may enjoy longer chapters I deemed it best to split them into two: one for setting up the final part of the suit-Arc and then the final part of said arc (Next chapter). I also divided them to make it a bit easier to follow what is going on.

Well, this is it. The second-last chapter of the Suit-Arc. How will Cinder have the suit's delivery delayed? Is Weiss turning to chaos?
Read and find out.

A heads up: I gave Roman & co. a music number. Let's see how you like that. If you don't realize the tune it's "The world's greatest criminal mind". Fitting, no?
I was inspired by Coeur Al'Aran's take on "Prince Ali" in his fic "Professor Arc" which I highly recommend.

Chapter 16:

The Void

Librarian Amaretto looked out from the Blood Angels vessel onto the living planet below. He was searching, feeling, for what had brought him and his battle-brothers to this planet.

Hidden behind and among the shattered pieces of Remnants moon the astartes were watching and waiting. Waiting for the time when they would descend down to the planet and declare themselves to its inhabitants, to bring the Imperium to them.

They had made it.
They had finally gotten to the right segmentum. They had finally gotten to the right solar system. And they had finally been able to find the right planet.
It had been a long and perilous journey but they had finally made it.

The joint-expeditionary forces of the astartes had been in system for one standard Terran week now.
When they had made their final warp jump they had been bruised and battered. The final stretch to this planet the vessel had practically limped.
The Lamenters Luck had seemingly realized how close they were to their objective and had pulled out all the stops on slowing them down.

Gellar field generators had been close to breaking down. The readings from plasma reactors had began to fluctuate. Accidents occurred among the crew.
But they had made it.

When asked if this truly was the planet they had been searching for the Librarians had simply nodded. The psychic trail they had been following led to this Planet. Their quarry was here somewhere.

As they got closer they had been able to intercept vox-signals from the planet.
It had been deemed good news to see that it was a developed civilization of humanity they had come across.
It had not taken long until they had sent scouting vessels ahead to observe and report on what was happening on planet.

As they drew closer had they with the aid of their scouting vessels tap into the information network that the inhabitants of the planet had established.
This CCT as they learned it was called was primarily maintained by four towers supported by several lesser relay stations across the planet. These towers acted as both receivers and transmitters.
Emphasis on transmitters.
While the vessels in the void could easily intercept the signals sent it seemed that the towers did not have such an easy time.

The system allowed for easy communication across the whole planet and was easily accessible, as made evident by the expeditionary forces ease of tapping into it. A bit too easy in fact.
Those trained by the Mechanicum had hastened to point this out.
The system's internal defences were woefully weak and they had soon discovered several means by which they could cripple communications on a planetary scale.

The most obvious fault was the intentional part of the system to stop working if even one of the major towers ceased to function. Thus as a prudent move the astartes had begun to tap into these towers remotely in order to monitor them without arousing suspicions from the locals.

After briefly observing the goings-on of Remnant it had been decided that they were to observe this world, this Remnant, before making planetfall.
The Flesh Teares had initially protested but had reluctantly agreed that it would be best to proceed with caution.

While the astartes had nothing to worry about in terms of planetary defense systems to attack them they wanted to know how the population would react to their arrival. This was after all not an Imperial world used to interplanetary travel.

There was also the question for how their quarry would respond to them if they came down with force of arms.
If their quarry was the primarch as the Lamenters and Blood Angels hoped then there was no sign of the Angel to be seen. There were no obvious signs. There were no statues of his likeness. There were no songs dedicated to him.
If what or who they were searching for was not the Angel then they needed to understand this world before they acted.

Thus the decision had been made to wait and observe.

Beacon Academy

It was one day before the ball. The whole school was getting ready for it.
Team RWBY had taken charge of getting the actual ballroom ready whilst also preparing themselves.

The team seemed to take it as time-off from their regularly scheduled mayhem. To them it was a chance to relax.
Somehow they had even managed to convince Blake to join in. Well, convince might not have been the right word. To say that they dragged her with them and forced her to step down from her usual antics might have been more accurate.
She needed it, the break from her hard work. The bags under her eyes were getting worse.

Team JNPR was also getting ready. They did not have a part in planning the actual ball so they just prepared their suits and dresses.
Ren and Nora had already had theirs ready at hand for some time now.
Pyrrha's dress had arrived some days ago along with her shoes.
Jaune's suit however, was absent. When asked about it he said that he had made arrangements.
His suit would be delivered to him the next day before the ball.

Ren and Nora were casually practicing their dance moves in the dorm.
They had been doing so for a few days now.
It was hard to tell who was the driving force behind this, Nora or Ren? Both seemed to take the initiative at times.

Pyrrha looked at them and smiled.
'When are they going to make it official and get together-together?' she wondered.

She looked over to Jaune. He was sitting on his bed reading poetry. It was a recently acquired taste he said. Something from his past life made him enjoy it.
He didn't seem worried about the dance. He had not even asked if she wanted to practice dancing before the ball. He almost seemed to avoid the topic with her.
Pyrrha had asked about Jaune's dance lessons with Weiss. He was a bit hesitant in answering and that worried Pyrrha.
'What doesn't he want to tell me?'

The discussion she had heard between Emerald and Cinder was still fresh in Pyrrha's mind. Even so, she tried to have faith.
'Youu hoope iiin vaiiin.'

"Jaune?"

"Yeah?"

"You do remember when the ball begins, right?"

"Of course I do. Why do you ask?"

"It's just that, I was wondering with all this time you have been spending with Weiss that you might go with her instead."

Jaune sighed, shaking his head.
"Pyrrha, for the love of dust, I have already said that I am going with you."
He almost sounded annoyed with her.

"I will go to the ball with you or else I'm wearing a skirt!"

"Okay."

Jaune would wear a skirt? Yeah right.
Before Pyrrha could press the matter further Jaune left the dorm in a hurry, as if he didn't want to talk with her.

All of a sudden Nora and Ren quit their dance. Ren seemed concerned and deep in thought.
"Renny, what is it? Is something wrong?" asked Nora.

"Nothing is wrong Nora. I just remembered something. Come along now."

Pyrrha didn't see it but behind Nora's head Ren was making his 'something is wrong face'.
Nora barely had time to nod before Ren dragged her off with him.
"Bye P-girl, smell you later."

Pyrrha was left alone in the dorm.
"Huh, guess nobody wants to hang around with me today. That's okay." she muttered.
"I'm used to it."

'You're juuust a blooood bank tooo hiiim.'

It didn't take Ren long to brief Nora on the situation. Not that she really needed to. She had understood it the moment Jaune had left the dorm.
Pyrrha was hurting on the inside and Jaune was part of the problem.

They caught up with Jaune soon enough.
"Jaune, what the actual hell?" Nora asked him.

He slumped and sighed.
"Oh dust, not you too. I already told you that I'm going with Pyrrha. Now would you stop pestering me about it?"

"Then why are you avoiding her?" inquired Ren.
"And why are you so defensive about your connection with Weiss around her?"

"Because she keeps asking questions. She would ruin it."

Nora's eyes narrowed.
"Ruin what? Jauney, you aren't having an affair just before the ball, are you? Seriously, people are talking about it."

"Indeed, I had expected better from you Jaune than to go back on your promise to Pyrr-MPH!"
Before Ren could finish his sentence Jaune had slammed his hand over Ren's and Nora's mouths.

He pushed them up against the wall, snarling at them. They had hit a very sore nerve for him.
"Do not test my patience! I have given Pyrrha my word and I intend to keep it in full! Do you understand what I am saying?"

They nodded as much as they could, visibly scared. Jaune had become much stronger than he was when they first had met him, strong enough to hold them pinned to the wall and they knew what he could do with his fangs.
Now was not the time to give him any trouble.

Jaune let go of them and sighed.
"Sorry guys. I know you are suspicious but I have no intention of going with Weiss, like ever. Not since she began trash-talking me because of my fangs."

"Then why the secrecy?" asked Ren, rubbing his sore face.

"Yeah, what's the matter?" inquired Nora.

Jaune relented. "Fine, I'll tell you but do not say a word about it to Pyrrha."

"But that's the problem! She needs to know. She thinks you, her best friend, have been lying to her."

"No, she doesn't need to know, or rather she mustn't know. Not yet, at least."
Jaune took a deep breath, preparing to explain what he was up to.
"Listen, what I'm doing with Weiss is meant to be a nice surprise for Pyrrha. That's why she must not know."

Nora and Ren stood there for a moment, in silent surprise.
"A surprise?"

"Yes, for all that she has done for me she deserves it."

Ren and Nora nodded understandingly.
Jaune just didn't realize how much they actually knew about his and Pyrrha's dealings. Like about the Thirst.

"So, anyway, I first went to Weiss in order to get a loan for a suit but then she got the idea of making it a surprise for Pyr and I foolishly agreed. I've been regretting it ever since but I have too much invested in this endeavor to back out now."

Jaune was not blind to Pyrrha's plight. It hurt him to see her like this but he couldn't do anything about it without revealing his plan. He could only trust that the surprise would make things up to her.

"Oooooohhhh, I see." Nora's frown turned into a smile.
"But what's taking it so dang long? It's only a suit."

"Nora, It is Weiss we are talking about, I doubt that it's just an ordinary 'suit'. Am I right, Jaune?"

"You're right Ren. Weiss insists that it must be perfect and I can't really deny her that when she is the one paying for it."
Hell, she was downright fanatical about it.
Jaune took out his scroll and showed them a picture of the suit in question.

Nora let out a whistle, liking what she saw.
"Well, well, well, that's a suit alright. Oh dust, it really will be a surprise! I'm sure Pyrrha will forgive you when you show up in this."

"I hope so. If all goes to plan it will be ready tomorrow before the ball."

Ren nodded but he was still a bit worried.
"Yes, but how do we proceed from here? Pyrrha is not all that happy about you avoiding her all the time and dodging her questions."

"Don't worry about that Renny, we will just ensure her that Jaune has promised to go with her." said Nora.

"Well, we have been doing that so far and it hasn't worked all that well, now has it?"

"We can hint that Jaune has something in store for her."

"That would spoil the surprise somewhat."

"Oh, darn, you're right."
Nora was silent for a moment.
"Well, we will figure something out. In the meantime you just make sure you get your suit, Leader."

"I will." He put his hands on their shoulders.
"And thanks, you have no idea what this means for me. Having someone else than Weiss to rely on in this matter is a huge relief."

"I'm sure." said Ren.
"I guess Neptune will be relieved as well, knowing that you haven't stolen his date for the ball."

"Heh, I can imagine."

Location: Nondescript warehouse in the City of Vale
Time: Time for all good boys and girls to be sleeping. It should come as no surprise then that there were no such individuals in the warehouse.

Roman Torchwick was wondering if he had finally flown over the cuckoo's nest.
Had his last scrap with Little Red scrambled him brains?
Had Neo laced his cigars with peyote or something?

Up to a few days ago he had been out on a job in Mountain Glenn putting bombs on a train full of grimm for the last week or so. All with the intent of driving said train right into the heart of the city with a mighty boom.
The idea had come to him when trying to come up with a way to get his "boss'" grimm into the city. What better way than to blast them in?

It was a great idea, he had convinced himself. It would be the deed to make him famous all over Remnant.
Well, more like infamous but there was no such thing as bad publicity he had told himself.

He would no longer be the thief Roman Torchwick. In stead he would be the The Train Bomber What Bombs With Trains.
It would be glorious. The terror, the bloodshed, the screaming of a thousand mouths crying out in pain.

But after one week of rigging bombs Roman had run out of bombs to rig.
So he had to make a trip to Vale to 'acquire' some more by less than respectable means.
He had brought Neo and Perry (the one good White Fang) along with him. The only two competent in his entire outfit. Well, except for himself.

Now however, one of his employer's lapdogs was in his hideout, telling him that he was to steal a piece of clothing.
Not dust. Not jewelry. Not money or anything important.
He was just to steal a suit.
Was it just Roman or did that make no sense at all?

"Hang on, hang on, hang on. Back up. She wants me to steal a suit?"

"Yes." said Emerald.

Roman Torchwick tilted his head as he looked at the mint-haired pickpocket.

Neo meanwhile was eagerly waiting to see how this played out. She had even paused from eating her ice cream.

"Again, she wants me to do what?" asked Roman for the fourth time in as many minutes.

Roman just couldn't understand what he was hearing right now.
Sure, he had done a lot of odd jobs for his "employer" as of late but those jobs actually mattered.
He had robbed dust-stores. He had ambushed dust transports. He had even gone so far as to cooperate with the animals from the White Fang.
That had been a pain the ass, working with those morons.
Well, maybe except for working with Perry. Perry was a total bro.

Emerald sighed. She was going to say this for a fourth and final time.
"Cinder wants you to at least attempt to steal a suit or whatever to keep it from getting delivered on time. Can you do it? Yes or no?"

Roman sneered.
Of course he could do it. Was he not Roman Torchwick, professional criminal extraordinaire?

"Yes." he said with contempt.
He was at the same time wondering how Emerald would look without her skull.
A head shorter probably. And a lot bloodier.

"Really? You think you're up to snuff to steal a suit from a tailor?" asked Emerald mockingly.

Too bad that her tone of voice was lost on Roman who had begun twirling his cane. A plan was forming in his head.
Neo had jumped up on a crate and was doing something with her scroll and soon Emerald could hear something in the background.
Music?

Neo kept going around the place, rousing up all of the goons.
Something was going to happen.

Then Roman took center stage.

"Am I not the man that brought you the Big Dust Caper?
The one that made headlines in every newspaper?
And wondrous things like the Dock Dust Job,
That cunning display that made Vale into a sob?"

"Now this heist will be a real Tour de Force.
Tricky and wicked, of course.
My earlier crimes have been alright for a time,
But now I'll be at it again.
A far grimmer plot will begin to simmer
In my great criminal brain."

The White Fang goons chimed in, conducted by a very enthusiastic Neo.

"Even meaner? Can he mean it?
Worse than the widows and orphans he made?
He's just best of the worst around.
Oh, Roman
Oh, Roman
All else fall behind
That's Roman
That's Roman
Vale's greatest criminal mind!"

"Thank you, thank you." said Roman with a mock bow.
"But it hasn't all been a dance on roses
I've had my share of troubles thanks to that miserable, second-rate huntress: Little Red of Beacon!"

(Boo!)

"For months that Red little hood has interfered with my plans.
I haven't had a moment's peace of mind!"

(Aww!)

"But soon, all that will in the past.
This time nothing, not even Little Red, will stand in my way!"

"Oh, Roman
Oh, Roman
You're tops and that's that.
To Roman
To Roman
And your hat's totally ballers'"

"To Roman, the greatest rat on Remnant!" chimed Emerald in to the song.
All this singing wasn't normal.
She had to get away from this madhouse.

Roman turned towards her and sneered.
"Are you still here? It will be done. Now buzz off. I'm busy."

Emerald rolled her eyes and turned around to leave.

"Oh, one last thing." said Roman.
"This suit, for what sort of fellow is it?"

"Some scrawny puke. No need to bother with that." Emerald lied.
Jaune Arc had been a scrawny puke but he had filled out quite a bit.

"Hmph."
Roman put a cigar to his lips and lit it with his cane as Emerald left.
"Some scrawny puke, eh? Guess that means I won't be using it myself then."

Yeah, that called for a slight change of plans. If Roman wouldn't be wearing the suit himself then he didn't want to steal it himself.
But the suit would be delayed, otherwise would that smoldering bitch would scorch his balls off.

But even now he was coming up with a plan on how to steal it. Oh, he hadn't done this kind of theft in a very long time. It made him feel nostalgic.
Alas, sacrifices had to be made.
"Perry, take some of the lads and take care of that would you? I've got to back all my bombs before we depart for Mountain Glenn again."

"Sure boss."

Roman turned to leave when he felt a tug at his sleeve. There was Neo looking at him with puppy eyes. His one true weakness.
Roman rolled his eyes but did comply to her unspoken request.
"And now, as you were singing." he said to all his goons as Neo jumped up on a crate and continued directing the song with her umbrella.

"Even louder
We'll shout it!
No one doubts what you can do.
You're more evil than even you can be.
Oh, Roman
Oh, Roman
You're one of a kind
To Roman
To Roman
The greatest criminal mind on Remnant!"